Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard the three rock stars have arrived in Bucharest on Sunday, to prepare for their concert today. At the Polivalenta Hall the gig kicks off at 8 PM. Formed in late 1969 in Houston, Texas, by Billy Gibbons (lead vocals and lead guitar), Dusty Hill (vocals, bass, and keyboards), and Frank Beard (drums). ZZ Top has been together for four decades, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was ranked number 44 on VH1 cable’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.” ZZ Top plays Texas boogie and blues, and no one has done it longer than them. The trio’s enduring appeal owes much to their mastery of traditional rock forms. Guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard were influenced by such blues masters as Freddie King, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Their songs are laden with pop-culture references and the determined pursuit of a good time. They visually connected with the MTV generation by virtue of Hill’s and Gibbons’ long beards and fur-lined guitars.Their earliest albums ZZ Top’s First Album (1970) and Rio Grande Mud (1971) gave them a chart hit, “Francene.” ZZ Top solidified their sound on Tres Hombres (1973) by recording in Memphis. The band holds the distinction of being among the few rock bands still composed of its original recording members for nearly 40 years. They reached peak commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring many hit songs during that era, but they remain together today and are still touring and releasing albums. For the Bucharest concert, the artists came with their 45 people crew, including several chefs who usually accompany the group in their tours. Arrangers say the three haven’t raised many pretensions for their stay in Romania, apart from a particular kitchen room at the Polivalenta Hall, and six special rooms prepared backstage. The concert tonight is part of the Double Down Live 2009 tour and will kick off at 7 P.M. with a music number from local folk-band Cri Gri. Tonight, after the show, the band will be heading to Sofia for their next performance on October 21. The price of a ticket was 120 RON in specialized stores, and will be 130 RON at entrance tonight.
